Michigan

Michigan Public Service Commission hosts workshop on utility affordability

Published

4 weeks ago

August 11, 2026

Michigan Public Service Commission hosts workshop on utility affordability

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), which is in charge of regulating utilities, hosted a workshop in Grand Rapids Tuesday seeking to inform the public on what goes into their bills but also get feedback.

For two and a half hours, commissioners and MPSC staff conversed with ratepayers on a variety of topics in regard to electricity and gas utilities.

“There’s an old dictum that the commission speaks through its orders, but in addition to speaking, we need to listen,” Commission Chair Dan Scripps said. “This is a great opportunity to to listen to the people who ultimately pay the bills at the end of the month.”

The commission noted Michigan utility costs have actually risen 5% below inflation, but acknowledged that’s still high.

“You’ve got one in four Americans today that are having to make those impossible choices between paying their electric bill or their gas bill and feeding their family or paying for medicine that they need,” Scripps said.

Constant rate hikes were a chief concern among attendees in conversations with staff, but also the impact of data centers on power bills.

Advocates like Wende Randall, director of the Kent County Essential Needs Task Force, were in attendance. She said their hotline receives a lot of calls from people unable to afford their utilities.

“The presentations went into a level of detail that we haven’t heard in a community forum like this before,” Randall said. “I think that was really helpful. But also having the opportunity to interact directly with staff and with commissioners is a really important way for us to be able to support our community members.”

The commission welcomed the feedback while putting forth potential legislative solutions.

Monday, they sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer providing recommendations.

“We literally go through these cases and we also know the limits of our authority under current law,” Scripps said. “So it’s a chance to say, ‘here are some things that maybe aren’t part of the conversation yet.’”

Among the 19 policies the commission wants to see, a ban on yearly rate cases, a rule to tie earnings to cost efficiency, requirements that utilities augment existing infrastructure before investing in costly upgrades.

They also recommend requirements that data centers pay the full cost imposed on the grid and an expansion of efficiency and assistance programs.

“There’s a system that that needs a lot of investment, we’re not where we want to be on reliability, but how do you balance that with the costs that customers pay and do it in the most cost effective way possible,” Scripps posited.

The MPSC will take what they heard from attendees in Grand Rapids and a second session in Detroit and factor that into rate cases and regulations.

Scripps said public input has already done a lot to transform what the agency does.

“We’re there to serve the public, and I will say, when you listen to people, you ultimately walk away with, with more than you started with,” he said.

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Michigan

Is Michigan’s clock controversy actually controversial?

Published

4 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Press Room

Is Michigan’s clock controversy actually controversial?

The College Football Unfiltered crew share their thoughts on whether or not Michigan’s recent ‘clock controversy’ is actually that, or just a mix up.

Video Transcript

Oh, boy.

Clock controversy.

Where do you land on this one?

I mean, I think the, I think the immediate knee-jerk reaction was sort of reasonably, “Is this rigged?”

Now, a couple days removed from this, what’s your read on it?

Where, where do you land, on, on, on what h- what all went down there?

Yeah, I mean, I, I want, like, WikiLeaks-style conspiracy in my sport of college football.

I’m all for this is rigged.

Voting machines are rigged.

Everything is rigged in the world.

I think it’s great for college football.

It’s just kind of who we are as college football fans and consumers.

I, I don’t think this is a conspiracy necessarily.

Like you said, like, we’ve, we’ve seen the reaction, like, from the MAC and from Western Michigan.

They’re like, “It’s disappointing that it turned out this way, but it’s all good.

Like, everything matches up.”

So I It’s not a conspiracy, and I, I can’t allow myself to let it get there.

I- it’s just a really unfortunate way for this game to end for both teams.

I think Michigan’s had bigger controversies and been part of things that were even more conspiratorial in the recent past.

I don’t think this one really qualifies.

Yeah, and, and I, I’m with you.

Like, I, I don’t think the fix was in here.

I think it looks messy.

It looks sloppy.

Why does it have to be this messy?

What– Why are millions of us seeing on TV a different thing than what the folks in the, in the replay room are, are seeing?

So I think that’s something that all conferences probably need to take a look at in, in making sure that they’re doing a better job of what you’re seeing on TV is what the folks in the replay room are seeing as well, so no one’s head even has to go to, “Is this a conspiracy?”

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Michigan

Bird migration to see big jump. ‘Lights out’ urged for Wednesday night

Published

14 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Press Room

Bird migration to see big jump. ‘Lights out’ urged for Wednesday night

More than 13 million birds will fly over Michigan’s night skies this week, and you can help by turning out your lights before heading to bed.

About 13.4 million birds are predicted to fly over Michigan Wednesday night, Sept. 9, according to Purdue University’s AeroEco Lab. The birds are headed to their winter destinations in warmer southern climates.

The BirdCast Migration Dashboard, a live migration map provided by Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology, says Michigan’s fall migration is reaching its peak time frame — from mid-September to mid-October. Overall, over 13 million birds are expected to be in flight Wednesday night, Sept. 2 and Thursday night, Sept 3.

The Birdcast system uses radar because most species migrate at night, some at altitudes as high as 15,000 feet, and aren’t visible to the naked eye.

Officials urge people to turn out unnecessary lights at night because they can interfere with birds’ ability to navigate and rest.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology produces the maps with support from NASA, Edward W. Rose Postdoctoral Fellowship, and Amazon Web Services, the National Science Foundation and Leon Levy Foundation.

Want a closer look? Shop binoculars here

Here’s what to know about fall bird migration.

How many birds will fly over Michigan Wednesday night?

About 13.4 million million birds are expected to fly over Michigan Wednesday night, Sept. 9, as part of fall migration, according to Purdue University’s AeroEco Lab. The number on Tuesday was expected to be about 2 million.

The Upper Peninsula to mid-Michigan will be under peak traffic in the highest “lights-out” alert status, while southwest Michigan to southeast Michigan and much of the Thumb will be under the medium lights-out alert range, per the lab.

Officials say turning lights out at night helps birds with navigation. Bright lights can disorient birds.

When is fall bird migration season?

In Michigan, fall bird migration is generally takes place between Aug. 1 and Nov. 30, BirdCast says.

Peak migration is defined by the seasonal window during which about 50% of nighttime bird migration traffic passes through an area.

According to the Birdcast historic track, Michigan migration season peaks in late September and early October.

The dashboard notes that numerous species of warblers are most likely to be migrating at this time.

How can you track bird migration south?

CornellLab hosts a BirdCast Migration Dashboard that provides daily summaries of radar-based nocturnal bird migration. With it, you can watch the progress of birds as they make their way south across the nation and even track how many flew over your county the night before.

How do I know when birds are flying through my area?

BirdCast provides live and local bird migration alerts throughout the continental U.S. by employing real-time analysis of bird migration traffic as detected by radar.

You can use the tool to determine whether birds are migrating in your area in low, medium, or high densities by entering your city in the search field on the website.

Where are Michigan birds flying to?

During fall migration, various species of birds depart Michigan and fly southward — as far as Central and South America, Cornell University says.

How can you help birds migrate?

To aid birds as they migrate, ornithologists urge Americans to turn off nonessential lighting — going “lights out” — from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during peak migration periods. Bright lights can attract and disorient birds that migrate at night, potentially causing fatal collisions with buildings.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.

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Michigan

Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for Sept. 7, 2026

Published

1 day ago

September 7, 2026

Press Room

Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for Sept. 7, 2026

The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Sept. 7, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Sept. 7 drawing

Midday: 2-3-9

Evening: 5-4-9

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Sept. 7 drawing

Midday: 1-6-3-5

Evening: 6-6-4-2

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from Sept. 7 drawing

JC-KD-8C-9D-5H

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from Sept. 7 drawing

22-25-28-29-35

09-14-16-18-31

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from Sept. 7 drawing

04-10-11-19-26-28-29-36-38-43-44-48-49-50-54-55-56-57-60-61-66-70

Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lottery’s Regional Offices.

To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to:

Michigan Lottery

Attn: Claim Center

101 E. Hillsdale

P.O. Box 30023

Lansing, MI 48909

For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a driver’s license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2.

If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows:

Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325
Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325
Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325
Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325
Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325
Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325

For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s prize claim page.

When are Michigan Lottery drawings held?

Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m.
Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily
Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily
Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily
Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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